Bennett Grateful For Mentor Like Croom

Every time he sees him, and it will be no different this weekend at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis, Green Bay Packers running backs coach Edgar Bennett can't help but remember the long, sit-down conversation eight years ago.

It was with Sylvester Croom, now the running backs coach of Sunday's opposing St. Louis Rams, in Croom's office at Lambeau Field - the same one Bennett now occupies.

Back in 2001, Croom was beginning a three-year tenure as the running backs coach of the Packers, and Bennett was embarking on his post-playing career as Green Bay's director of player development.

Thinking he wanted to eventually get back into the on-field game after seven seasons as a running back (five with the Packers, two with the Chicago Bears), Bennett decided to approach Croom, who already had a quarter century to his credit as a major college and NFL coach, about what it would take to break into the coaching ranks.